14 Comments
User's avatar
Andy Goss's avatar

Procrastination really is the thief of time. "Sunday", I thought. No commitments, a whole day mine to do the things I want and need to do and get out of the way so I can get down to the writing that I really should have been doing for half a year now. But what have I done? Topped up the bird feeders, measured up a dressing gown that I bought in a hotel in Osaka decades ago but is too long for safety in a two storey house but Summer will surely come and I'll need it. Read at length about bad album covers and an American ventriloquist who used her dummy to teach kids about Jesus. Watched an episode of Small Prophets while having afternoon tea.

Better than writers block. I can write about all sorts of things other than what sits on my hard drive waiting for me to open it up.

Maybe you have one of those, too, still and silent like a crocodile. Let sleeping crocs lie. Much safer that way. There is a certain appeal to "might have been", as against the danger of awakening the crocodile. Only it is awake, and it is not a crocodile, it is my future. And it scares me.

Thanks, Matt. You have given me a nudge. We don't have to stay stuck.

Patricia Lustig's avatar

I also have this, as do all the writers I know. It is only some of the time. Entirely unpleasant. Well done for finding your way out of it this time. 😊

Rebecca Mack ☕'s avatar

Oh Matt be kind to yourself, a move is a big thing, even if it’s a move for the better.

I worked with a woman once who had waited years to extend her kitchen. Life had been a struggle for many reasons and her much wanted extension was always on the back burner. Once her struggles had subsided she went ahead with the extension and when it was finished, all shiny and new, she couldn’t stop crying. She wanted her old kitchen back, her old life where the people she had loved and lost once lived.

Changes to our external environments can trigger our internal ones.

Take your time. Your words are worth waiting for.

Sylvia G's avatar

Very insightful words Rebecca.

Summer Rhi (They/Them)'s avatar

The algorithm led me here. Consuming content (and definitely doomscrolling) has brought me to your thoughtful and vulnerable post and allowed me to pause and consider what I am doing. I think I might go for a walk now and reflect on it. Thank you for sharing this.

Matt Taylor's avatar

How interesting. The algorithm can lead you to a piece that you need I find it interesting. As it feeds the justification of the doomscrolling when these things happen. I'm glad you found the piece and liked it 🙂

AbigailAmpersand's avatar

That was really interesting. Food for thought. Thank you.

Matt Taylor's avatar

I'm glad this has resonated with you

Ann's avatar

This is the first thing I have read this morning and I will think about it today…gentle, but powerful things to think about. Thank you.

Matt Taylor's avatar

Tha ks so much Ann 🙏

Andrea Lewis's avatar

This isn't uncommon Matt... You will get through it Good that you can be honest about it though... It's not easy to be alone with your thoughts whoever you are, we all use distractions ❤️

Matt Taylor's avatar

Thanks Andrea for all your support 🙏 when things ebb again, I will try to remmeber this.

Terri Windling's avatar

Your words are worth waiting for, Matt. I'm always deeply affected by what you write here.

Matt Taylor's avatar

Thanks so much, I really appreciate it. The longer the delay went on only increased the anxiety